Book 4: Chapter 3

Kimidori Gorn-san lived in a log house on the lake shore.

There was a table set and a couch on the wooden deck. A pretty stylish house with a small boat that could sail out to the lake immediately.

I was honestly surprised. Since he was kind of eccentric, I imagined he would be like a mad scientist who hides his secret research facility in a cave or some such.

「Welcome inside, nuru.」Kimidori Gorn-san said, while repeatedly glancing at us. It seems that he really wants us to come inside. But, is it really normal to invite strangers you just met so easily? Rather, it makes me more cautious.

Normally, having Asha enter first would be the basis of an escort, but I didn’t know what was inside, so I took the lead with caution.

「…Oh, it’s normal.」

I involuntarily voiced my thoughts.

There was a fireplace, a bed, and a table for 4. There were unrefined copper pots and mugs on the table. The place was clean, spacious and fresh.

The temperature was higher than outside, so it was sort of humid. But it doesn’t have any strange smell.

「N-Now then, would you like to eat first, nuru? Or change clothes, nuru? Or perhaps–the research?」

Are you a newly-wed bride? ”Do you want a meal? A bath? Or else… me?” Don’t say something like that while fidgeting.

「I’m sorry, but we would like to know about the state of affairs around these parts first of all.」

「Hmm. About the state of affairs of the research results, huh. How enthusiastic! Splendid, nura!」

「…………」

Asha. This is not my fault. So don’t look at me with such a troubled expression.

「Okay… let’s see it.」I said.

「Hmhmhm! Then wait just a moment!」

Kimidori Gorn-san jumped into the next room through the door at the back, and immediately returned with a handful of metal magic tools.

「Look at this, nura!」

He placed two eggs on the plates on the table. It was about twice as large as a L-size chicken egg, and had a yellow shell with purple polka dots. Back on Earth, this would be similar to an “Easter egg”.

Although the pattern was slightly different, the two eggs looked almost identical.

「What are these eggs?」

「It’s a Chochoriges egg, nu. Don’t you know?」

I didn’t know that, but I don’t think I really want to know, either. Looking through【World Ruler】, I can see the bird that laid this egg. It was a very funky-looking bird with three necks and an earthworm tail. It seems that the earthworm part is thrust into the ground and lays eggs. The eggs are highly nutritious, but eating too much can cause addiction. That was all the information I got. Useless knowledge that will be of no use in the future.

「And this is a magic tool that is the result of my research, nu.」

「I see?」

The metal base, which is about a handful, seems to be insanely heavy judging from the sound it made when placed on the table earlier. There was a metal plate in the center and holes on the left and right to insert magic stones.

「We put the egg here, and then…」

The moment the egg was placed in the center, an intricately drawn sorcery circuit emerged on the plate and the base while casting light.

「————」

Asha, who was standing next to me, observed the scene with wonder.

As the light subsided, more letters emerged.

『Life』

Asha and I exchanged glances, confused as to what that meant. The next egg was placed and the magic circuit was activated in the same way.

The next letter emerged.

『Boiled egg』

「Fufufu…Fuhahahahahahahahaha!!! You must be astonished, aren’t you, nura!! This is my perfected device! A magic tool which distinguishes if it is a boiled egg or not! I call it『Dead Or Alive』!!!」

Kimidori Gorn laughed like a mad scientist, spreading both hands wide.

His voice echoed throughout the small log house.

The sound will surely reach far along the lakeside.

Immediately after, a deafening silence descended.

「…Umm, you just have to place the egg on a flat surface and spin it. If it spins quickly, it’s a boiled egg, and if it spins slowly, it’s a raw egg. Isn’t that how it’s usually done?」

When I demonstrated it, there was a clear difference in the rotation of the two eggs. Of course, it was the same outcome as the result of the magic tool.

「…………」

Kimidori Gorn-san, his arms still outstretched, looked at the scene with wide eyes and mouth gaping open.

**

After that, Kimidori Gorn-san silently cleared away “Dead Or Alive” and served us tea, then scrambled eggs and boiled eggs for dinner. The main meal was mashed potatoes sprinkled with salt. Even that was very delicious, and we had a good feast.

「So… do you guys want to know about this area, nura?」

Kimidori Gorn-san finally spoke after a long silence.

「Umm, I am sorry for just now…」I said.

「No! It’s fine! It’s not like I spent two years conducting that research, or borrowed money from my parents!」

I couldn’t find the words to console Kimidori Gorn-san who turned away dejectedly. Damnit! Why didn’t someone teach this man how to distinguish a boiled egg! No, this person chose to live in such a remote place… this situation can’t be helped.

「Coming back to the topic… you wanted to know about the dragonewt people, right, nu?」

「Are you a dragonewt?」Asha asked.

「Hmm? Surely you must have heard about us in your village? You don’t even know such a common knowledge, nu?」

「Umm… we have some special circumstances.」I said.

「I see. Underground humans and dark elves have a strong tribal sense. You must have had a hard time…」

He was feeling sympathy for us for some reason. “Well, I felt more pain when my two years of research was shattered in an instant,” he muttered under his breath.

「There are more dragonewt than underground humans and dark elves, after all. Right now, there are probably more than 10,000 of us.」

「10,000!?」

「Fuhaha. Are you surprised, nuru? The dragonewt people are strong in the battle with monsters–」

「W-Wait a minute!」

I involuntarily yelled out.

「Uhh… I just want to make sure, but what about races other than the underground humans, the dark elves, and the dragonewt people…?」I asked.

Kimidori Gorn-san stared at me blankly. And with a look that seemed to back up my unpleasant premonition, he said,

「Of course, there are only three races. The rest perished hundreds of years ago, nu. Don’t you know that?」